Implementation of a women-based community driven development (CDD) programme in Tamil Nadu: the Pudhu Vaazhvu Project (PVP)

Community Driven Development (CDD) approach is a developmental model that operates on the principle of “community takes control of the development process, resources and decision making authority.” This case study examines one CDD project in southern India, called the Pudhu Vaazhvu Project (PVP).

The paper reveals that most poor families in the examined region are included in PVP PIP list (the PVP’s list of poor and very poor households). However, it clarifies that the inclusion in the PIP list does not guarantee benefits for the households. In this sense, it underlines the serious concern that women of the most disadvantaged households are probably excluded, particularly those women that face domestic violence and restriction in mobility. Furthermore, it notes that majorities of households that receive benefits have some kind of connection with the Village Poverty Reduction Committees (VPRC) members.

Recommendations include:

• officials must authorise that “bosses” be changed every two years in order to facilitate new ideas, and reduce risk of corruption and internal divisions amongst groups
• more rigorous trainings on importance of democratic mechanism of voting to women leaders should be provided
• the VPRC members should be given rigorous trainings on how to manage funds, and simultaneously, appropriate mechanisms to monitor and follow up with loans should be in place